This season is going exactly as planned

[Fiz]

The hole in this theory is that we are nowhere near the cheapest team, as far as payroll goes, this season... last I saw we were still spending like $109 or so million on salaries, and that puts us in the mid to upper range...

think of how much of that is going to Jake Delhomme.

The real question is how much of the salary is going to actual players, and what I remember reading is that only about 60ish million is in payroll.

[panthers55]

Truth is this team may be the worse one we have had under Fox. Look at the numbers instead of talking about individual players. We are scoring 11 points a game (32) while giving up 22 (22nd). We are 30th in total yards on offense and 18th on defense.

Our quarterback play is worse now then at any time under Fox including 2009. At least we won a game by now with arguably a tougher schedule.

We have no defensive line to speak of, we tackle poorly, our secondary is weak. Our offensive line is pretty porous, we have no wide receiver with Smith out and our running attack is hot and cold. Clausen can't sting together 3 good throws and slings it wildly at the first sign of a rush.

Truth is it isn't even playcalling. These same plays worked in the past. It is lack of execution and lack of experience right now. Look at the Saints, they had no running game, a quarterback who was in a knee brace and we still couldn't beat them. Why? no offense.

Next week if Cutler is out we will again have a golden chance handed to us to win a game. Watch what happens, we won't score more than 14 points again and lose.

Why, we don't have playmakers anymore. Who can you count on in the clutch? No one.

Sad but true. Feel free to argue about how great our talent is and how it will be great down the road but honestly who even knows who will be here down the road. What we do know is that right now this is the worse team we have put on the field in the Fox era, and the offense including Clausen is pretty pitiful right now.

[panthers55]

I really can't believe JR would sacrifice one year and a year of a players career just to save some money. Only then to bring in a new coaching staff and basically put the team 2-3 years from being a winner. Jon Gruden (or any other coach) is not going to walk in and take a team to the Superbowl in his first year twice.

That assumes a new coach of any note would want to come in here and coach. If as it looks we go 4-12 this year who would want the job. Probably a coordinator, nothing more. People want to know we have talent and that is in debate everywhere but here. Look at what folks outside of the huddle and in Clarlotte are saying about us. Nothing really good.

[Brooklyn Bully]

AGAIN, for those missing it this is exactly how JR planned this season to go. No cap, he dumps the overpriced salaries. No CBA in place he is keeping his costs down for when there IS a CBA in place.

I will say it again, YES as a fan it is painful to watch but if you see the bigger picture then you would have to agree it is the right thing to do. We have to position ourselfs to have a good draft pick, lower cap number and some pieces in place for when the new CBA is in place.

Honestly we panthers fans are a little spoiled, this team has been at least competitive in the 00's including a Superbowl. Want to talk suck? Go check out the Buffalo Bills...believe me it could be MUCH worse!!

I agree on the spoiled fan thing. I think it was panthers55 who said he did not "sign on for 2-3 years of rebuilding". I think lots of fans feel like that. I'll tell them what I told him: go be a fan of the Colts or Steelers then.

Those teams are usually always decent (well, since Peyton for the Colts). We are going to have growing pains. We've become spoiled and expect to be in the Playoffs sooner than later and back in the big game soon too. I got news for ya, we may not see a Super Bowl for over ten years. We may not see the Playoffs for 3-5 years. I know we have some good parts on our team right now, and I know the right pieces will give us great hope. But other teams play too. We always forget that.

I can wait out these growing pains. Hopefully others can too.

[Mr. Scot]

I don't believe it was planned. I think they kind of talked themselves into believing that Moore was better than Delhomme in his prime. And it really burned them.

If we had the 2004-2005 Jake under center right now, the question wouldn't be 0-4 or 1-3, it would be 4-0 or 3-1. And if Moore had worked out, we would all be celebrating the great wisdom of our front office and owner.

Pretty much.

The notion that they went in planning to lose is just stupid beyond reason.

[rico6]

While I agree to a point. He still needed to field a decent team. Could have signed some vets for 1 year and still be set when the CBA is signed.

Agreed, no respectful owner would insult his fanbase with this product that he puts on the field.

There's no arguing for that.

And spoiled? Really?? The OP was wrong for saying that.